Finger ring including ring guard with undulated bearing surface



Jan. 2, 1968 scilEcHTER ET AL 3,360,959 Q FINGER RING INCLUDING RINGGUARD WITH UNDULATED BEARING SURFACE Filed Aug. 4. 1964 INVENTORS JACK&H6C/-/7'6R BY Slaw 6W T q- 44 Z0 11 United States Patent 3,360,959FINGER RING INCLUDING RING GUARD WITH 1 UNDULATED BEARING SURFACE JackSchechter, North Caldwell, N.J., and Jack L. Shaw, New York, N.Y.,assignors to Palais Jewelers, Inc.,

New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Aug. 4, 1964, Ser. No.387,467

3 Claims. (Cl. 63-156) This invention relates to a finger ring includinga ring guard with an undulated bearing surface.

It is the primary object of this invention to provide an ornamentalfinger ring including a permanently builtin ring guard, wherein the ringguard has an undulated surface which, when the ring is being worn, bearsagainst the skin on the undersurface of the wearers finger so as toprevent the ring from slipping off, twisting or rotating.

It is well known in the jewelry art to provide ring guards for fingerrings, the ring guard being arranged to permit enlargement of the fingerring opening so that the ring may be slipped over the wearers knuckle,and further being arranged to subsequently permit constriction of thefinger ring opening so that the ring cannot fail oif the wearers hand.

The aforementioned ring guards have been provided to overcome a problemcaused by the structure of the hum-an hand. The difllculty is that theknuckle of a finger is larger than the bony structure of the phalanx(shank) of the finger bones between the knuckles. The interiorcircumference of the band of the ring must be large enough to slip overthe knuckles and the skin thereon, which means that the opening is toolarge for the phalanx of the bone, plus the skin covering the bone,closest to the palm. It is noted that this problem is particularlyaggravating for people who have arthritis with the consequent enlarge-dknuckles and for people who use their fingers a great deal in theiroccupation as, for instance, typists and musicians.

Although, as has been mentioned, the problem of contricting the ringband after it has been slipped over the knuckle has been solved, it hasyet been the tendency of such ornamental rings to rotate when worn. Thisis primarily due to the presence of a heavy setting or precious gem orany other type of decorative ornamentation, which makes the ring topheavy so that the ring is unbalanced, and consequently the heavydecorative portion tends to twist or turn the ring. This condition isaggravating when the wearers hands are oily or wet (and perhaps soapy),reducing the friction between the band and the finger to let the ringrotate more readily.

It is of course undesirable to allow the ring to slip because of theannoying feeling caused when the enlarged decorative portion of the ringtouches the adjacent fingers, and because the decorative portion ishidden from view. Although prior art ring guards sometimes increased thefriction between the ring band and the finger, this increase wasnecessarily kept at a minimum because an undue constriction in sizewould pinch the finger and even restrict the flow of blood in thefinger. Consequently, these finger guards did little to inhibit rotationof a ring once it was placed on the finger.

It is an object of this invention to provide an orna- .mental fingerring of the character described, wherein the ring guard constricts thering band after the ring is passed over the knuckle of the finger, andsimultaneously by its construction prevents the ring band from rotatingon the finger, even in instances when the ring carries a heavy settingand gem.

It is another object of the invention to provide an ornamental fingerring of the character described where- 3,360,959 Patented Jan. 2, 1968in the ring guard inhibits rotating or twisting of the ring on thefinger without noticeable pinching of the finger.

It is another object of the invention to provide an ornamental fingerring of the character described, which is economical in manufacture,constitutes only one movable part, and which can be incorporated intoornamental finger rings at a low cost.

It is another object of the invention to provide an ornamental fingerring of the character described, Wherein the addition of the ring guarddoes not detract from the overall sales-inducing appearance of the ring.

It is another object of the invention to provide an ornamental fingerring of the character described, wherein the ring guard is notobservable when the ring is being worn.

It is another object of the invention to provide an ornamental fingerring of the character described, wherein the ring guard is permanentlyengaged to the ring so that it cannot become detached therefrom and socannot become misplaced or lost.

It is another object of the invention to provide an ornamental fingerring of the character described, wherein the ring guard can beincorporated into almost any type of otherwise conventional finger ringwithout any sacrifice in appearance, strength, cost or quality.

Other objects of the invention in part will be obviou and in part willbe pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combinations of elements and arrangements of parts which will beexemplified in the finger ring hereinafter described and of which thescope of application will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which is shown one embodiment of thisinvention,

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an ornamental finger ring including itsring guard with its undulated bearing surface, the ring guard being inits open position immediately prior to placement onto the finger of awearer;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but illustrating the ring guard inits closed position with the ring being worn on the finger;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are enlarged partially sectional side elevational views ofthe ornamental finger ring and illustrating the ring guard with itsundulated bearing surface in, respectively, open and closed positions;and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantiallyalong the line 55 of FIG. 4.

In general, and in accordance with the teaching of this invention, anornamental finger ring is provided which is conventional except for theaddition of a new and improved ring guard. The ring comprises a circular.360-sweep band and a setting for a precious gem or cameo, etc.

T he ring guard incorporated into the ornamental finger ring comprises agenerally arcuate upwardly concave sector which is swingably mounted ina circumferential slot in the ring band. The slot is diametricallyopposed to the ring setting. The sector has an undulated surface which,when the ring is worn, bears against the soft flesh on the under surfaceof the wearers finger.

When in an open position, the ring guard sector does not protrude intothe finger opening defined by the ring band, and in this condition theband is of sufiicient internal diameter so that it can he slipped overthe wearers knuckles.

When the ring is located so that its band encircles the smaller diameterof the phalanx of the finger (between the knuckle and the palm), thesector is swung into the slot so that the undulated surface of thesector obtrudes into the finger opening and bears against the fleshyundersurface of the wearers finger. A typical reduction in size effectedby the ring guard is about 1 to 2 /2 ring sizes.

The skin of the finger is forced to generally follow the shape of theundulated surface against which it bears, the soft flesh flowing awayfrom the peaks on the undulated surface and into the valleys separatingthe peaks. The resistance of the skin and flesh to further flow afterthey have been pressed into the described undulated configurationinhibits any twisting or rotating of the ring due to its heavy setting.Yet, since only an undulated configuration is imparted to theundersurface of the finger and no undue squeezing or pinching isperformed, the wearer feels only that he has on a properly fitting ring.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, the reference numeral 10denotes an ornamental finger ring including a ring guard having anundulated bearing surface.

The ring 10 includes a generally circular band 12 comprising a 360continuous sweep which defines an opening through which the finger ofthe wearer is inserted. The term generally circular includes bands whichdefine a circle of constant diameter as well as bands definingrectanguloid as well as other non-descript shapes, which yet provide afinger opening. The band 12 and the other portions of the ring 10 areformed from a rigid, self-form-maintaining material, preferably metals,e.g. gold, silver or platinum alloys.

The ring 10 further includes a setting 14 for a gem 16. The setting can,of course, be fashioned in any desired form which is in current vogue.The setting can be molded in one piece with the band, or can beseparately formed and then attached to the band as by autogenouswelding.

The ornamental finger ring incorporates a ring guard, generallydesignated by reference number 18, which includes an element, i.e. asector 20, which in part defines a portion of the ring opening.

The sector 20 is pivoted at one end 22 for swinging movement on the band12 in and out of a through slot 24 formed in the band. Morespecifically, the slot 24 is located on the band at a positiondiametrically opposed to the setting 14. The slot is of constant widthand passes from the exposed exterior surface of the band in a radialdirection to the interior surface of the band (the interior surfacebeing in contact with the wearers finger when the ring is worn). Theslot extends from approximately to less than /2 of the circumference ofthe band. The slot is centered from side-to-side on the band (see FIG.and sufiicient band material is retained on each side thereof to retainthe strength of the band.

The sector 20 generally has an upwardly concave arcuate configuration,and has a thickness only slightly less than the thickness of the slot24. (See FIG. 5.) It occupies substantially the full length of the slotwhen swung into its closed position. (See FIG. 4.)

The sector 20 is mounted for reciprocal movement about an axis parallelto the central axis of the ring opening but spaced therefrom. To thisend, the sector is journaled on a small-diameter pin 26 which is heldfast in coaxial through bores in opposed walls of the slot at one endthereof. The pin passes through an aperture in the sector at its pivotedend 22. The associated end of the slot is shaped as at 30 in a mannersuch that it will not interfere with movement of the sector. The sectorhas a shoulder 32 which abuts the end 30 of the slot to limit outwardswinging movement of the sector. (See FIG. 3.)

The sector 20 has an exterior border 34 (that is, that border mostdistant from the finger opening) which is of the same curvature as theoutside, exposed circumferential surface of the band 12. When the sectoris in its closed position, the exterior border of the sector and theexposed circumferential surface of the band are in transverse registry,i.e. are substantially coincident. (See FIG. 4.)

The essential feature of the ring guard of the present invention residesin the provision of an undulated 1nterior border 36 on the sector 20,which border when the sector is in its closed position obtrudes into thefinger Opening defined by the ring band and, when the ring is worn,bears against the fleshy undersurface of the wearers finger. Preferably,the undulated border comprises a series of adjacent circular segments,each segment being of the same diameter, and each segment, when thesector is in its closed position, protruding radially equally into thefinger opening. Other compound curved or non-linear borders are alsosuitable, eg. a rounded saw tooth or scalloped configuration; in fact,any shape presenting at least one and preferably a few prot'fusions tothe under= surface of the finger, having externally Conv'e'it eiestsseparated by valleys of any form not presenting sharp points to thewearers skin is suitable.

The end 35 of the sector 20 opposed to its pivoted end 22 carries aprotruding fingernail nib 38. The nib 38 projects tangentially from theend 35 of the sector. A shallow recess 40 is provided in the associatedend of the slot and the nib slopes slightly away from the exteriorsurface of the band so that when the sector 1s in its closed position,there is yet sufficient space to permit the insertion of the wearersfingernail so that the nib can then be pressed downwardlyradially-outwardly away from the band to open the sector.

Means is provided to detachably retain the sector in its closedposition. For this purpose, two coaxial tits 42 project each from adifferent wall of the slot and the sector has two coaxial indents 44which, when the sector is in its closed position, receive the tits so asto keep the sector in place. (See FIG. 5.) The walls of the slot aresufliciently resilient so that the tits can be forced out of the indentsand the sector opened by ordinary finger pressure.

When the sector is in its open position swung out of the slot with itsundulated interior border distant from the finger opening, the fingeropening is defined only by the ring band and the ring can readily fitover the knuckles, and the skin thereon, of the finger of the wearer.(See FIG. 1.) When the ring is in its proper location encircling thephalanx of the finger between the middle knuckle and the knuckleadjacent the palm, the sector is closed with the tit and indentarrangement re= taining the sector in place. In this closed position,the undulated interior border of the sector projects into the fingeropening and bears against the fleshly under= surface of the finger. Theskin and flesh thereupon afe forced to flow away from the leading crestsof said border and into the valleys separating the crests. The skin andflesh thus are also formed into an undulateti con figurationsubstantially complementary to the undulated interior border of thesector. The construction of the sector causes a reduction of from l-2 /2finger sizes in the opening of the ring.

The flesh and undersurface of the skin, shaped into the undulatedconfiguration above mentioned, resist further flow and so inhibit thering from rotating, twisting or slipping. The sector is easily opened byfingernail pressure on the nib 38, again enlarging the opening andpermitting the ring to be withdrawn off the finger.

It thus will be seen there has been provided a finger ring whichachieves the several objects of the present invention and which is welladapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention,and as various changes might be made in the embodiment set forth, it isto be understood that all matter herein described or shown in the ac-'companying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

Having thus described the invention, there is claimed as new and usefuland it is desired to secure by Letters Patent:

1. An ornamental finger ring including a band defining a permanentlyclosed generally circular finger opening, a setting mounted on the band,a sector including rotation-inhibiting means defining an undulatedinterior border, and means pivoting one end of said sector on the bandfor swinging movement of the sector about an axis passing through theband and parallel to and spaced from the central axis of the openingbetween a closed position in which the interior border of the sector isdisposed radially inward of the interior surface of the band so that theundulated border obtrudes into the finger opening whereby said undulatedborder presses against the fleshy undersurface of a finger when the ringis on the finger of a wearer, the flesh of the finger then flowing intothe valleys of said surface and by its resistance to furthercircumferential flow inhibiting rotation of the ring on the finger, andan open position wherein the undulated border is radially outward of theinterior surface of the band, said band including a circumferentialthrough slot diametrically opposed to the setting member, the sectorbeing mounted at one end of the slot for movement into and away fromsaid slot, and means to hold the sector in its closed position.

2. An ornamental finger ring as set forth in claim 1 wherein theundulated border comprises a series of radially inwardly protrudingrounded segments.

3. An ornamental finger ring as set forth in claim 1 wherein theundulated border comprises a series of radially inwardly protrudingadjacent rounded segments.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 512,839 1/1894 Oppenheimer 6315.61,285,473 11/1918 Tripp 294-25 1,382,043 1/1921 Young 63--15.6 2,771,75311/1956 Sallan 63-15.7

FOREIGN PATENTS 474,313 6/ 1951 Canada.

F. BARRY SHAY, Primary Examiner.

1. AN ORNAMENTAL FINGER RING INCLUDING A BAND DEFINING A PERMANENTLYCLOSED GENERALLY CIRCULAR FINGER OPENING, A SETTING MOUNTED ON THE BAND,A SECTOR INCLUDING ROTATION-INHIBITING MEANS DEFINING AN UNDULATEDINTERIOR BORDER, AND MEANS PIVOTING ONE END OF SAID SECTOR ON THE BANDFOR SWINING MOVEMENT OF THE SECTOR ABOUT AN AXIS PASSING THROUGH THEBAND AND PARALLEL TO AND SPACED FROM THE CENTRAL AXIS OF THE OPENINGBETWEEN A CLOSED POSITION IN WHICH THE INTERIOR BORDER OF THE SECTOR ISDISPOSED RADIALLY INWARD OF THE INTERIOR SURFACE OF THE BAND SO THAT THEUNDULATED BORDER OBTRUDES INTO THE FINGER OPENING WHEREBY SAID UNDULATEDBORDER PRESSES AGAINST THE FLESHLY UNDERSURFACE OF A FINGER WHEN THERING IS ON THE FINGER OF A WEARER, THE FLESH OF THE FINGER THEN